Football: Steubenville Advances to Division IV State Semis

November 23, 2013

Led by sophomore running back Johnnie Blue, Big Red topped the Braves 17-14 to claim the Division IV, Region 13 championship and a trip to face Cardinal Mooney in the state semifinals in Week 14.

''The thing that I was most pleased with besides that we played with a passion was that kids on the sideline that were injured and should have been starting that were into the game,'' Steubenville coach Reno Saccoccia said. ''They were into the game, and everyone helped in the way they could help.''

Trailing 14-10 with 3:06 remaining in the third quarter, Big Red went on a seven-play, 78-yard drive, culminating with a 7-yard Blue touchdown run. John Paul Duff put home the extra point for a 17-14 lead with 14 seconds remaining in the third quarter. Blue had runs of 24, 12, and 6 yards on the drive as well.

''The offense did a great job,'' Saccoccia said. ''At times I think they were playing us real wide and our quarterback (Mandela Lawrence-Burke) did a great job of picking his plays.''

Blue made his presence felt on the defensive side on the ensuing drive. The Braves faced third-and-15 from the Steubenville 47 when Blue came through with a sack of Indian Valley quarterback Brady Byers for an 11-yard loss to force a punt.

Big Red looked to be on its way to closing things out on the following possession, driving to the Braves 34 on seven plays. A holding penalty paired with a personal foul call sent the ball all the way back to the Big Red 42 and forced a punt three plays later.

''I thought we moved the ball well the whole game,'' Saccoccia said. ''It was our best offensive output the whole playoffs, but we almost killed ourselves with that 25-yard penalty. We lead the country in 25-yard penalties.''

The Big Red defense was up to the task though, and, with Indian Valley facing fourth-and-8, Blue hit Byers for his second sack, this time causing a fumble that was recovered by Arin Goldsmith.

Two Lawrence-Burke kneels later Big Red was hoisting the regional title.

''I know there's a guy named Lazarus, but I think we beat him,'' said Saccoccia of his team's unlikely voyage to becoming regional champs. ''After Week 9 they were throwing on the last shovel and I think it broke. I think the only reason we're still around is the shovel broke.''

Big Red opened the game with a 15-play, 67-yard, five-minute drive that saw Lawrence-Burke go in from 5 yards out.

With the game tied, kicker John Paul Duff put Big Red up 10-7 with a 33-yard field goal in the second quarter.

''I should be hung by the highest tree for not using him more, but I'm just not a kicking guy I guess,'' Saccoccia said. ''He's a clutch player.''

The Steubenville defense gave up a pair of touchdowns in the second quarter to Indian Valley running back Jake Davis, but the Eastern District Offensive Player of the Year was held to 48 yards on the ground along with 1 receiving yard. The Braves managed 175 yards of total offense.

''I don't know anything about stats,'' Saccoccia said. ''I was always told stats are for losers. All I know is the first half we didn't tackle well. The second half we shut them out.''

Blue led the Big Red offensive charge with 21 carries for 178 yards and the game-winning score. Big Red ended the game with 288 yards of offense.